Splake Slay in the rain, Limited out for a snack

[Drew]

Left home at 6am for opening day trout fishing. Saw a moose on the drive in, then a big Tom turkey on the road strutting his stuff in front of a couple ladies. Picked a stocked lake, portaged in, and as I approached the lake, through the hemlocks, the lake looked white. My common sense said ice, my optimism said, no no, just the reflection of the clouds. So as I approach the lake’s edge, my heart drops a bit as I realize she’s locked up tight. Just enough room to get a canoe to float in one foot of water. Bummer. All alone, so not gonna try ice fishing, though it looked quite white, if I had someone with me and a rope, woulda tried it. Time to slog the canoe back outta here

Anyway, headed back out to the vehicle, walked a trail to check another small lake, which had some ice on it, met a guy there who walked in and was staring at the lake wondering how far he’d have to bushwack around the shoreline to find an ice free spot he could cast. I wasn’t feeling it there, and it’s nice to have a lake to yourself, so I let that guy be, and went to check another lake. This one looked like only a small portion was still ice covered, so decided to go get the canoe and give it a whirl.

By this time, it’s way later than I planned to start fishing, but doesn’t take long to get a first bite. Small splake. Next, a better take, and I’ve got a decent one on. Nope, smallie. Big one too. Hard time getting it in my little net. Quickly let it go and carry on. Casting and trolling, lots of missed strikes, and a few lost beside the boat. They were definitely having a good time thrashing anything that moved today. Lots of action, lots released, and brought home my limit for a good snack. Got thoroughly soaked even with the rain gear and was quite happy to load up the wood stove when I got home with all my drenched gear.

[Drew]

Friggin ice

[Drew]

Mostly ice free

[Drew]

First one

[Drew]

Second one. Yup, out of season. Call it in

[Drew]

Couldn’t get in shallow on the south side

[Drew]

Got all calm and misty after a few rain downpours

[Drew]

Not much for size, but limited out in a couple hours

[Drew]

The reward

(Oh, plus having the lake to myself, and being on the water in the canoe again). A little warm weather to get some bugs hatching and it’ll be Specky time!!

[grampa]

hey andrew nice. you still have that knife

[mykola]

Awesome! Jealous. Sent a PM for additional ice out details. That meat is amazing.

[Disco]

Oh those are amazing looking fillets. YUM.

Personally IDK about the OOS pic. 👍🏻

[Longshank]

that's a great report and well done on the fish.........look great


you answered a lot of questions I had about ice remaining plus snow in the bush also.....thanks

[longfish]

Well done Andrew.....those fillets look delicious.....Thx for sharing.

You really had to work for those but worth it in the end.

Arnie

[sabmgb]

some really nice looking fish there.